Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus.



J.- P. COLEMAN.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1914.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR WITNESSES THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. F'hgoTO-LITHQ. WASHING Inn. 0.C

J. P. COLEMAN. RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTRQLLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1914. 1 121593 Patented Feb.9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FlG.2

WITNESSES THE NORRIS PETERS co. PHoTaLlTHa, WASHINGTON, D. z:v

UNITED srarrns PATENT OFFICE JOHN" P; COLEMAN, OF EDGEWOOD' BOROUGH,EENNSYL'VTANEA, ASSIGNOR O UNIUZN SWITCH:& SIGNAL COMPANSQOFSWISSVALEPENNSYLVANIA; A 0031 .0?-

RATIONT OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RAfiiWAY-GSEAF'Pic-CONTROLLING=APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9;, 191.51

Application'fil'ed J'u1y22, 1914 Serial Nb: 852,332.

Toall whom it mag concern:

Be it known that'I, JOHN P. COLEMAN, a

citizen of the United Statesjresiding at is a diagrammatic view showinga railway crossover having applied thereto one form of indicationapparatus embodying my invention; Fig; 2 is a diagrammatic View showingthe-positions of certain partsof the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 after theswitches havebeen reversed: Fig. 3 is a view showing a modification;ofcertairr parts of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Referring first to Fig. 1, Tand T aretwo parallel railway tracks, whichtracks are connected by a crossover comprising track raiIsT and twoswitches A and Bi When these switchesareset in the positions shown inFig; 1, which I will term the normal positions, traffic will not bediverted from track to track, but when the switches are moved to what Ishall'term their reverse positions, as shown in Fig. 2, traflic-isdivertedfrom track T to T or vice-versa Each switch is provided with amotor M,

each of which motorsoperatesa switch actuatmgmechanism F. As here shown,each motor M comprises'two solenoidslOand 11,

which; control: a reciprocating plunger 12, which latter is operativelyconnected with a cam plate 37. This plate is provided with a cam slot38, which actuates a roller 39 on eratively-connected with the switchrails by ating m'echanism; it is understood chance not limit myselftothisparticular type-, but

that any suitable kind of motor and switch actuating mechanism may beemployed;

The motors M, M are controlled by-means of a' circuit controlling leverC, which is usually one of'a' plurality'of similarlevers comprised in aninterlocking machine? This-leverC maybe ofany suitable-type; as hereshown, it comprises-a shaft l3'which isadapted to oscillate and whichoperates acontact; finger 18 for the control of't'he' circuits forthesolenoids of motorsM, The control circuits for these solenoids areherein shown in dash lines for the purpose ofdistinction, the circuitsfor theindicationi apparatus being shown in solid lines.

19 designates a source of current, which, as here-shown, isaadirect-current generator. In the arrangement of the-control circuitsherein shown, one or the other of the'sole noids 10 or 113 of eachswitch motor M'is connected with the source ofcurrent 19 accordingascontact finger 18' engages with contact 45 or M; It isunderstood,however, that this arrangement of control of the m0- tor devices M bythe lever C is merely illustrative and that I do not wish to; limitmyself tothisparticul'ar arrangement.

The movements of the shaft 13 are as usual controlled by indicationapparatus, which, as here shown, comprises two indication devices K andK one for-each direction of movement. Each ofthese indication'devicescomprises a: segment QT'fixed to the shaft; 13 and provided with a dog28" adapted to engage with a latch 29, which latches are controlledrespectively by elec tromagnets N and B. Each of the electro magnets Nand R isprovided' with'a circuit which is controlled by anelectromagnetic device D as hereinafterexplained; The c1r-- cults fortl'ieseindication magnets are also controlled: by contacts 25 and26operated by shaft- 1-3. These contacts are not moved during the firstportion of themovem'ent of the shaft 1 3' up to thepoint' at which it isstopped'by the dog 28 of one or the otlier'of' the indication devices,but during the re mainder of'the movement of the shaft, the contacts 25'and 26' are'reversed in position.

This operation of contacts 25' and 264s, as

here shown,v accomplished by mounting the contact fingers loosely cm theshaft 1'35 and" P and P.

relay, while the other contact 15, which I will term the polarizedcontact, is responsive only to reversals of current in the relay. Therelay D is provided with a circuit which is controlled by the twocircuit controllers Circuit controller P comprises two movable contactfingers'l6 and 17, while controller P comprises four movable fingers 76,77, 30 and 41. These circuit controllers and the connections thereto areso arranged "that when both switches are in normal position, as shown inFig. l, relay D is energized from generator 19 in one direction so thatthe polarized contact 15 occupies one extreme position, and that whenboth switches are in the reverse position, as shown in Fig. 2, relay Dis energized in the opposite direction so that the polarized contact 15occupies its other extreme position. Under all other circumstances, thatis, when the switches are not both in the normal or both in the reversepositions, the relay D is dis connected from generator 19 and is placedon short circuit so that the neutral contact 14 of relay D will be open,thereby preventing the energization of either indication magnet N or It.

\Vith the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 1, that is, when theswitches are in their normal positions, relay D is energized by thefollowing circuit: from generator 19 through wires 21 and 72, contactfinger 76, wire 71, contact finger 16, wire 24, relay D, wire 23,contact finger 17, wire 70, contact finger 30, wires 69 and 22 togenerator 19. Therelay, D is then energized in such direction thatcontact 15--63 is closed and contact 15-63 is open, so that normalindication magnet N was energized before its circuit was open at contact26.

When it is desired to move switches A and B fromtheir normal positionsto their reverse positions, the shaft 13 of control lever C is rotatedin the direction indicated by the arrow until the dog 28 of indication,deviceK engages the latch 29. In this position the contact finger 18has been disengaged from contact 44 and has engaged contact 45 so thatsolenoids 10 are energized through the following circuit: from generator19, through wires 59 and 52, contact finger 18, contact 45, wire 53,solenoid 10 of motor M for switch A, wire 64, solenoid 10 of motor Mfor. switch 13, wires 65, 66,

and 22, to generator 19. This causes solenoids 10 to draw the plungers12 to the right, thereby shifting the plates 37 so that the rollers 39are moved by the cam slots 38 and the switches A and B are reversed. Assoon as this movement begins and while the right-hand longitudinalportions of the slots 38 are moving past the rollers 39, the circuitcontrollers P and P are operated so that contact fingers 76 and 30 ofcircuit controller P disengage from fixed contacts 78 and 81respectlvely and engage with fixed contacts 7 9 and 42 respectively,which latter are electrically connected by wire 51; contact fingers 77and 41 continue to engage with fixed contacts 80 and 54, respectively,which latter are also electrically connected by wire 51; and

. contact fingers 16 and 17 of circuit controller P disengage from fixedcontacts 48 and 50 and engage with fixed contacts 46 and 47respectively, which latter are connected by a conductor 51 Relay D isthen placed on the following short-circuit: from relay D, through wire24, contact finger 16, contact 46, wire 51 contact 47, contact finger17, wire 23 to relay D. The neutral contact 14 of relay D is then open,so that neither indication magnet N or R can be energized. The purposeof placing relay D on shortcircuit is to prevent false operation of thisrelay by any current which might leak into wires 23 and 24. The contactfingers of both circuit controllers continue to engage the fixedcontacts just mentioned while the switches A and B are being moved bythe inclined portion of the slots 38. When the movement of switches Aand B is complete and the left-hand longitudinal portions of the slots38 are moving past the rollers 39, the contact fingers 77 and 41 ofcircuit controller P are moved to engage with fixed wires 21, 72 and 73,contact finger 41, wire 74, contact finger 17 wire 23, relay D, wire 24,contact finger 16, wire 75, contact finger 77, wires 69 and 22 togenerator 19. Relay D is now energized in such direction that contact1563 is closed, and the reverse indication magnet R is then energized bythe following circuit-(Fig. 1)from generator 19, through wires 59, 67and 60, magnet R, wire 58, contact finger 25, wire 57, contact 6315,contact 14 of relay D, wires 56 and 22 to generator 19. Magnet R thenraises its armature, thereby raising the latch memes 29 out of the pathof dog 28 of indication device K so that the movement of shaft 13 can becontinued to the end of the stroke. During this last portion of themovement, contact 25 is opened thereby opening at this point the circuitfor magnet R, and contact 26 is closed thereby closing at that point thecircuit for magnet N.

The operation of the apparatus for the movement of the switches A and Bfrom the reverse to their normal position would be similar to that justexplained, hence it need not be described here in detail.

Assume now that in response to movement of the lever C from normaltoward reverse position switch B makes a complete movement to reverseposition and switch A fails to move from its normal position, circuitcontroller P would then reverse, while circuit controller P would remainas shown in Fig. 1. Relay D would then be disconnected from power mains21 and 22 and placed on the following short circuit, from relay D,through wire 24, contact finger 16, wire 71, contact finger 76, wire 51,contact finger 30, wire 70, contact finger 17, wire 23 to relay D. RelayD would then be deenergized, so that contact 14 would be opened and thereverse indication magnet could not be energized to permit the movementof lever C to be completed. I will now assume that when the parts are inthe positions shown in Fig. 1, the lever C is moved toward reverseposition and that switch A makes a complete movement to reverseposition, but that switch 13 makes a partial movement and is thenblocked. This may occur, for example, in case of a stone or piece ofcoal falling between the rails of switch B. Relay D is againdisconnected from the generator 19 and is placed on the following shortcircuitfrom relay D, through wire 24, contact 16, wire 71, contact 77wire 51, contact 41, wire contact 17, wire 23 to relay D. Hence, relay Dis deenergized so that its contact 14 is open, thereby preventing theenergization of indication magnet R to permit completion of the movementof lever C.

It will be seen from the foregoing that whenever the operating mechanismof switch A is intermediate its extreme position, relay D is placed onshort circuit by wire 51. It will, furthermore, be seen that wheneverswitch A is in one extreme position or the other and switch B is not inthe corresponding extreme position or is in an intermediate positionrelay D is placed on short circuit by wire 51, hence relay D can be mengized only when both switches A and B are in extreme normal or extremereverse positions.

Referring now to Fig. 3, in the modification here shown the polarizedelectromagnetic device which is controlled by the circuit, controllersat the switches is adapted to V the direct mechanical control of thelatches 29 of the indication devices K and K. The

electromagnetic device, which I have here the circuit controllers at theswitches, and a V polarized armature 86 pivotally mounted at point 87.This armature, when swung in one direction or the other, according tothe direction of current in the coils 84-85, raises latch 29 of oneindication device or the other out of the path of the corresponding dog28. This armature is preferably biased to the intermediate or horizontalposition by a counterweight 88, so that it will be swung to theintermediate position as soon as the coils 84, 85 are deenergized; whenin this intermediate position neither latch 29 is raised from itssegment 27 It is, of course, understood that the latches 29 are guidedby suitable fixed means to prevent them from being moved laterally bythe dogs 28. i

The operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 will be apparent from theforegoing explanation of that shown in Fig. 1. As soon as the switchesstart to move in response to a preliminary movement of lever C, themagnet coils 84, 85 are placed on short circuit so that armature 86 isthen moved to its intermediate position by counterweight 88. Themovement of the lever to its final position is then prevented by latch29 of indication device K until both switches have completed theirmovement in response to the preliminary movement of lever C.

Although I have herein shown and described only two forms of apparatusembodying my invention, it is understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein within the scone of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a railway crossover comprising two switches,indication means for said switches, an electromagnetic device responsiveto reversals of current for controlling said indication means, two pairsof wires, a source of current, means associated with one of saidswitches for connecting one of said pairs of wires or the other withsaid source according as the switch is in one extreme position or theother, and means associated with the other switch for connecting one ofsaid pairs of wires or the other with the electromagnetic deviceaccording as the last-mentioned switch is in one extreme position or theother, the wires which are connected with the source being the oneswhich are also connected with the electromagnetic device when the twoswitches occupy corresponding positions, and the wires of one pair beingconnected with the source in the opposite direction to those of theotherpair asisaid switchesare both in one extreme-pd sition or both inthe other extreme position.

2; In combination, a railway" crossover comprisingtwo switches,indication means for said switches, an electromagneticdevice responsiveto reversals of current for controlling said indication means, two pairsof wires, a source of current, means associated with one of saidswitches for connecting one of said pairs of wires or theother with saidsource according as the switch is in oneextrenieposition or the other,and means associated with the other switch for connecting one of saidpairs of wires or the other with the electromagnetic device according asthe last-mentioned switch is in one extreme position or the other, thewires which are connected with the source being the ones which are alsoconnected with the electromagnetic device when the two switchesoccupycorrespending positions, and the wires of one means alsoassociated with thesecond switch for placing said electromagnetic deviceonshort circuitwhen thesecond switch is intermediate its extremepositions, and means also associated with the first switch forelectrically connecting the two wires of each pair when said firstswitch is intermediate its extreme positions whereby if the secondswitch is then in either extreme position the electromagnetic devicewill be placed on short circuit at the first switch. 7

3. In combination, a railway crossover comprising two switches,indication means for said switches, an electromagnetic device responsiveto reversals of current for controlling said indication means, two pairsof wires, a source of current; means associated said pairs of wires orthe other with the electromagnetic device according as thelastmentionedv switch is in one extreme position pair being connectedwith the'source in the opposite direction to those ofthe other pair,

or" theother', and fordisconnecting said electromagnetic" device fromsaid wires and placing said ClBVlCG'OILSllOIl? circuit when the:

last mentionedswitch is intermediate its extreme positions; the wiresWillCli' are con-- nected with the source'being the ones which are alsoconnected with the electromagnetic device when the two switches occupycorresponding posit ons,- and the wires of one pair being connected withthe source in the opposite direction to those of" the other pair wherebythe electromagnetic device is energized in one direction or the otheraccording as said switches are both in one extreme position or both inthe other extreme position,v

and whereby said electromagnetic device is disconnected from thesourceand placed on short circuit when either switch is 1ntermediateitsextrenie positions.

4. In combination, a railway crossover comprising two switches,indication means for said switches, an electromagnetic device responsiveto reversals of current for controlling-said indication means, twoipairsof wires, a source of current, means associated with oneof'said switchesfor connecting one of said pairs of wires or. the other With said sourceaccording as the switch is in one eX- treme position or the other, andmeans asso-- sponding positions, and the wires of one pair beingconnected with the source in the opposite direction to those of theother pair;

and means also associated with the firstmentioned switch forelectrically connecting.

the twopairs of wires which are not connected with the source, wherebywhen one switch is in one extreme position and the other in the oppositeextreme position the electromagnetic device is disconnected from thesource-andis placed on short circuit.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Joiiiv P. COLEMAN.

Witnesses A. HERMAN WEGNER, R. L.. Kis'rLiiR;

Copies-otthi: patent-may be obtained for five: centseach, 10y addressingthe Commissioner 0! Patents. Washington, D. C.

